HawaiiDave

My co-worker had her trip refunded, had to jump through some hoops via the phone. I just haven't called them yet to try, but I am going to do it though.

DanJ

As a follow-up, I was on the phone with Delta earlier because when checking my flights online, they didn't come up on the search. Turned out the first leg was already sold out, so it didn't show on the available itineraries. Anyway, while she was looking at my reservation, she noticed the ATL connection from LAX to FNT had shrunk to 41 minutes. She said 55 was the minimum, so she rebooked us on an earlier flight from LAX.

HeathrowGuy

Keep in mind that connection times at airports are not always absolute - sometimes there are *specific* exceptions to the connection times when connecting to/from certain flights, cities, or airlines.

javajunkie

This is interesting because I usually get offered 35-40 min connect times in both ATL and CVG thru delta.com. I don't care for these flt pairs because it is usually my luck that the I/B flt is late and my O/B flt is on-time or early.

So instead, I have to look for other flt pairings that won't squeeze me so hard (and then I can go wait in the CRC - ).

BTW - did I mention that the new (well - now its not so new) "unbanked" schedule $uck$! They took away most of my favorite flts.

Gargoyle

Orbitz is the exception. They sold me an itinerary this spring which was under the minimum times for an Intl. connection at YUL. (61 minute connection, AF requires check in 60 minutes prior to boarding, the terminals were a 25 minute fast walk apart, plus lines for security and immigration/customs. Even if I faxed myself across the terminal bypassing security, if the fax transmision took 90 seconds I would have been late). When I wrote Orbitz to complain about missing the flight and missing a day in Europe, they said it was my fault: "Orbitz is an on-line travel booking tool where the customer acts as the travel agent and is responsible for the booking made."

So, I'm an unlicensed travel agent and I demand compensation from my self. I'll be mailing myself vouchers.

So, I guess bottom line is, trust the connection time if you book it from the airline, but not if you book it elsewhere.

Traveller

Can I have a few too?

I also get <30 minute connection times in ATL but this is for domestic. Is there a different rule for international?

Gargoyle

I'll print them up today. They are valid for RT front seat transportation between ORD or RFD to my country estate.

My experience was YUL, where AF closes the gate 60 minutes prior to departure for int'l, and int'l is a separate sterile area from domestic, so and you have to clear security as well as immigration/customs.

Helena Handbaskets

I recently ended up 2/3 of the way back in Y on a 757, and in a middle seat, and when the plane's doors opened I had 21 minutes to the scheduled departure of my connecting flight. We were parked at A (mid-way between the train and the end of the concourse) and the departing flight was at D (about 3 gates down from the train). With a modest amount of running, I made it with 5 minutes to spare.

Now I know a GM FTer with over 500 posts should not find himself so far back in Y, and in a middle seat, to boot, but that's another story.

indufan

Do us all a favor and don't run next time.

USCGamecock

This is my usual as well.

Of course, I like it when the FA asks everyone w/o a tight connection to let those who do get off first. Everyone stands up to get off.

RobertS975

That tactic never works, IMO, because inevitably, the guy on the aisle seat that does not have a close connection needs to get out of the way of the passenger at the window who does have a close connection. Although well-intentioned, I have never actually senn that work.

Casimir

I find myself in total agreement with all of indufan's posts in this thread, for me a novel but good place to be! First, don't worry about it too much. Second, it is also my experience that if it were a two-hour layover, you'd have gates next to each other, but with 50 minutes, it's several terminals away. One tip to allay some fear (or perhaps heighten it) is to check on the Delta home page what gates the first flight normally arrives at and the second flight normally departs from. (Use the "flight status" tool and see what happened yesterday, today, and what is supposed to happen tomorrow with those flights -- you'll get a sense of routine versus non-routine gates used). The "normal" is not set in stone of course, as gates are often changed at the last minute, but at least you'll have an idea of what normal operations will yield.

Finally, as with indufan, I never ever run in an airport. There may even be local regulations against me doing so. Good luck!

indufan

Can someone with better internet search skills than me find a list of these minimum connection times? It's definitely not 55 minutes at ATL.

vinnmann

Deleted

baccarat_king

indufan, I am certain your are correct --- it is NOT 55 minutes --- thought I remembered it being 35 minutes.

edit : a comprehensive listing of connection times for airlines/airports is available from OAG -- but, I am NOT a member.